Plaster cast remover



April 24, 1945. J. CASTRO ,3 4 1 PLASTER CAST REM VER Filed Oct. 6, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l I Irwento'r April 24, 1945. J. cAsTRb PLASTER CAST REMOVER Filed Oct. 6, 1944 2 sheetshea 2- Inventor Jkfi Ga 57370 WW m;

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Patented Apr. 24, 1945 UNITED STATES ZPAT'ENT" OFFICE 2,374.164iby I PLASTEB. CAST m vm J ohnCastro, New York. N. Y. Application October 6, 1944, Serial No. 557,461

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in plaster cast removers and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this charactercomprising a unique construction and arrangement whereby plaster casts may be 'quickly removed without danger of injuring the, patient.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide, in a plaster cast remover of the type comprising a circular power-driven saw, an adjustable gauge of unique construction for regulating or controlling the depth of the cut of said saw.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a plaster cast remover of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eiiicient and reliable in use, compact, and which may be manufactured at low cost. 7

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specifitaken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of a plaster cast removing apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the hand piece.

Figure 3 is a view in longitudinal section through the hand piece.

Figure 4 is a view in transverse section, taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view in transverse section, taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a view in end elevation of the hand piece.

Figure 7 is a detail view in elevation of the gauge-retaining sleeve.

Figure 8 is a detail view in elevation of the adjustable gauge.-

Referring now to the drawings in detail. it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a handle assembly which is designated generally by reference character I. The handle I includes a tube 2 of suitable metal. Threadedly mounted on the forward end portion of the tube 2 is a removable guard 3. A rigid shaft 4 of suitable metal is journaled longitudinally in the tube 2 and projects beyond the ends thereof. Removably mounted on the forward end portion of i the shaft and operable in the guard 3 is a circular saw 5. As best seen in'Figure 6 of the drawings, the bottom of the guard 3 is open and the saw '5 protrudes therefrom for engagement with the work. Also,lthe front wall of the guard 3 has formed therein a recess or openhis 6. 1

Mounted for rotary adjustment on the tube 2 in abutting engagement with the inner wall of the guard 3 is a gauge 1 in the form of a substantially rectangular plate. The gauge 1 has formed therein an off-center opening 8 which accommodates the tube 2. Notches 9 communicate with the opening 8. The gauge 1 projects beyond the bottom of the guard 3 for engagement with the cast for controlling the depth of the cut of the saw 5.

Slidably mounted on the forward portion of the tube 2 i a metallic sleeve 10. Projecting from the forward'end of the sleeve ID are lugs ll (se Figure 7) which are engageable in the notches 9 for positively securing the gauge 7 against rotation relative to said sleeve. An elongated ring or tube H of resilient rubber pr other suitable material is mounted on the sleeve 10 and is engaged-at one end with the gauge 1. A ferrule or the like I2 is mounted on the other end portion of the resilient tube II. A knurled nut i3 is threaded on the inner end portion of the sleeve l0 and engaged with the ferrule 12.

Mounted on the tube 2 rearwardly of the tube i0 is a tubular cover IA of resilient rubber or other suitable material. A washer or ring I5 is mounted between the forward end of the tubular cover It and the nut l3. The resilient tubular cover M is compressed longitudinally between the washer l5 and a knurled, annular nut it which is threaded on the inner end portion of the tube 2.

A flexible tubular housing I! has one end connected, as at i8, to the inner end portion of the tube 2. The housing I! encloses a flexible drive shaft [9 having one end connected at 20 to the shaft 4. The other end of the flexible drive shaft 19 is connected by a coupling 2i (see Figure 1) to the shaft 22 of an electric motor 23 of suitable horse power which is mounted on a base 24. Rising from the base 24 is a bracket 25 in which one end of the flexible housing I"! is secured. Also mounted on the bracket 25 is an electric switch 26 which controls the motor 23. A clip 21 is provided on the motor 23 for holding the handle I and the assembly thereon when the device is not in use.

' Itis thought that the operation of the device 5 will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the motor 23, which may receive electric current from any suitable source, drives the circular saw 5 through the shafts l9 and 4. The operator, gripping the handle l, feeds the saw over the cast as it cuts therethrough. The gauge 7, riding on the cast, positively limits the depth of the cut. The horsepower of the electric motor 23 is such as to permit the circular saw 5 to jam if the teeth thereof contact the usual flannel or cotton material which is placed between the cast and the flesh of the patient. The longitudinally compressed resilient'cover [4 yieldingly urges the elements I 0, I I, etc., forwardly for l.

frictionally securing the gauge 1 in adjusted position. However, the construction and arrangement is such as to permit the gauge 1 to be rotatably adjusted to bring any of its edges to operative position beneath the guard 3. The saw 5 comprises a flanged hub 28 which is threadedly mounted on the shaft 4. A nut 29 secures the saw 5 on the hub 28. A key 30, which is integral with the hub 28, engages in a notch provided therefor in the saw 5 for positively securing said saw against rotation relative to said hub;

" It is believed that'the many advantages of a.

plaster cast remover constructed in accordance with the present-invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details or construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A plaster cast remover of the character described comprising a, handle including a tube, a guard mounted on one end portion of the tube, a shaft journaled in the tube, means for actuating the shaft, 2. saw mounted on the shaft and operable in the guard, a fiat, polygonal gauge mounted off-center on the tube in abutting engagement with the guard and rotatably adjustable, said gauge being engageable with the cast for regulating the operating depth of the saw, said gauge having an opening therein accommodating the tube and further having notches communicating with the opening, a sleeve slidably mounted on the tube, lugs on the sleeve engaged .in thenotches, a resilient tube mounted on the 

